Push button gear shift with neutral start button



June 7, 1960 H. R. LUCAS ETAL 2,939,447

PUSH BUTTON GEAR SHIFT WITH NEUTRAL START BUTTON Filed Aug. 8, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l f/NVENTORE. Malia/7 4%.; Z lzzaes June 7, 1960 H. R. LUCAS ETAL PUSH BUTTON GEAR SHIFT WITH NEUTRAL START BUTTON Filed Aug. 8. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PUSH BUTTON GEAR SHIFT WITH NEUTRAL START BUTTON Harland R. Lucas,Livonia, and George H. Muller, Northville, Mich., assignors to Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 8, 1956, Ser- No. 602,723

1 Claim. 01. 1 23-179 provement in the push button mechanism disclosed in the pending patent application of Jovanovich et al., Se-' rial Number 597,425 which'is assigned to the assigneeof our instant invention. i

In the presently disclosed embodiment of our invention provision is made for releasing or disengaging one push button after lanother push button is depressed or engaged when the vehicle operator desires to shift from one transmission operating range to another. A separate push button is provided for conditioning the transmission for neutral operation, the remaining push buttons assuming a retracted position when the neutral push bu ton is depressed.

Since it is consideredquite unsafe to start the vehicle engine while the transmission is in one of the drive ranges, it is usual practice to provide an auxiliary switch in series with the usual ignition switch and to arrange the operator controlled member of the gear shift mechanism so that it closes the auxiliary switch when the gear shift mechanism assumes a neutral position and opens the same when the mechanism assumes a position corresponding to any of the several drive ranges. According to a principal feature of our invention we have provided a means which is inherent Within the transmission drive selector mechanism for shifting the transmission to neutral before closing of the engine starter solenoid circuit becomes possible.

2 The movable switch portion is situated inthe line of motion'of the neutral key and the switch functions to close theengine starter solenoid circuit when this mov; able portion is engaged by the neutral push button key, although it normally assumes an open circuit position when the neutral push button key is retracted. It is thus necessary to move the neutral key through the neutral range and to thereby disengage each ofthe keys associated with the various drive ranges before it is possible to close the'engine starter motor circuit.

For the purpose of'more particularly describing the principal features of our invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein: n Figure 1 is a plan view of the selector mechanism of our instant invention which maybe mounted on the interior dash structure of the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle, or at any other suitable location;

Figure 1A is a schematic illustration of the exterior of an automatic transmission. capable of being used with the selector mechanism of our instant invention;

' Figure 2 is across sectionalview taken along section line' 2-2 of Figure 1 with portions thereby'being shown ing the various shift keys of the selector mechanism of Figures 1 and 2, thel ow, direct, neutral-start, reverse and The provision of an improved selector mechanism of the type set forth in the preceding paragraph being a principle object of our invention, it is a further object of our invention to provide a transmission range selector mechanism for an engine powered vehicle of the type above described wherein the neutral push button is operatively associated with the engine electric starter motor solenoid circuit for the engine.

' It is a further object of our invention to provide a transmission range selector mechanism of the type above described wherein means are provided for preventing the vehicle operator from accidently closing the engine starter solenoid circuit while operating the neutral push button when the engine is running.

In carrying forth the foregoing objects, we have provided a push button transmission selector of simplified construction as disclosed in the above mentioned pending application of Jovanovich et 211. wherein the neutral push button is carried by a key which is adapted to engage a movable portion of an electrical switch, the latterforming a part of the engine starter motor circuit;

park keys being identified, by the symbols L, D, l SI/S, Rand P, respectively; w p Figure 8 is an end view of the selector mechanism of our instant invention showing the push buttons associated with'ea'ch of the respective keys, together with their relative positions; 7 a I Figure 9 is a s'ubassembly viewshowinga shiftable lever or cradle forming a portion of the selector mechanism, the keys'of Figures 3 thr ough 7 being adapted to engage and adjustablyiposition the same; 7 K

Figure 10 showsa spring loaded latch which is situated within the selector mechanism for separately retaining the various keys in an operative position. After one of the keys is moved into engagement with the cradle of Figure 9, the latch is released by any one of the other keys upon movement thereof toward an operative position thereby permitting the first key to be retracted under spring pressure.

Referring first to Figure 1, numeral 10 is used to generally designate the housing for the selector mechanism and it comprises a pair of side walls 12 and 14, a front wall 16 and a rear wall 18, said walls cooperating to de fine a rectangular box-like structure. Five separate keys are slidably mounted within the housing it) with the terminal ends thereof being received through aligned apertures in the front'and rear walls 16 and .18, said keys being designated by numerals 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28. The front and rear walls 16 and 18 are formed with extensions 30 and 32 which in turn are formed with aligned apertures for slidably receiving an emergency brake release key 34 as shown. Thekey 34 may be mechanically connected to the actuating levers of a conventionalemergency brake mechanism, not shown, and when it is manually actuated in the left hand direction, the

actuating levers are caused to move to a brake releasing position under spring pressure. The key 34 may then be returned to the retracted position shown in Figure 1 by. a spring 35.

Referring to Figure 2 the reverse key 26 is shown in more particular detail and it includes a main body section'36 on which are formed a pair of shoulders 33 and 44) situated in a predetermined longitudinally spaced re lationship.. Afirst extension 42 extends' through an ,ap erture 44 formed in plate 30 and isadapted to ea ry a suitable push button 46 in the terminal end thereof asindicated. The end face 48 of the push button-46 ma 3 be appropriately designated identify the function of the key 26.

A shroud 50 may be positioned at one end of housing in order to present a pleasing appearance to the mechanism and to provide a support for securing housing'10 and the associated elements of the mechanism in an operative position. The shroud 50 may in turn be secured to the dash structure of the vehicle within the passenger compartment by suitable fastening means shown in part at 52. 7

Another extension 54 is formed at the other end of the key 26 and it extends through an aperture 56 formed in the end plate 18. The transverse dimension of the extension 54 is relatively small with respect to the body portion 36 and is received within a compression spring 58 which acts between the base of the extension 54 and end plate 18 for biasing the key 26 in a right hand direction, as viewed-in'Figure 2. A longitudinally extending slot 60 is formed in the body portion 36 and a re-' cess 62 is provided as indicated for accommodating a latching element 64 as the key 26 is movedmanually in a left hand direction. The recess 62 defines a latching shoulder 66 which may cooperate with an edge 68 by the symbol R so as to members 100 and 102 interconnect the side members 94 and 96 thereby defining a substantially rectangular structure mounted for rotation about the bar 98. By preference, a bar 104 is carried adjacent the top member 100 and is supported by the side members 94 and 96. Similarly, another bar 1066s carried adjacent the bottom member 102 and is end' supported by the side members 94 'a'nd'96',j the bars 104 and 106 being substantially equidistant from the pivot bar 98. An extension 108 is carried by the cradle member 92 adjacent the upper memit extends to a movable valve element of the transmisformed on the latching element 64. A cam surface is T formed along the under side of the body portion 36 as shown at 67 over which the edge 68 of the latching element 64 is caused to ride as the key 2.6 is shifted in a left hand direction, the latching element 64'rotating a predetermined amount in a counterclockwise direction to permit this camming action to take place.

--The latching element 64 is shown more particularly in Figure 10 and it is comprised of a pivot bar 70- transversely situated with respect to the housing 10 and pivoted thereon within the housing side walls 10 and 14 at 72 and 74. The latching element 64, as best seen in Figure 2, is characterized by a generally channel-shaped cross section. When the key 26 is moved in a left hand direction, the latching element 64 is received within the recess 62 and the edge 68 of the latching element 64 engages the shoulder 66 of the key 26 to hold the latter in a left hand position until the latching element 64 is released. When the latching element 64 is released, the spring 58 urges the key 26 toward a retracted position, a suitable rubber bumper 75 being carried by the wall to cushion the retracting motion of each key. A tension spring 76 is interposed between one side 78 of the latching element 64 and the end plate 18 for normally biasing the latching element 64 in a clockwise direction about the pivot bar 70, as viewed in Figure 2.

A spring subassembly is designated in Figures 1 and 2 by numeral 80 and it is secured to the top side of the end wall 30. The spring assembly 80 includes four spring elements 82, 84, 86 and 88 respectively engaging the keys 20, 22, 26 and 28. Each of the keys is formed with a detent for cooperating with the respective spring elements, the detent for the reverse key being shown in Figure 2 at 90. As the reverse key 26 is moved in the left hand direction, the spring element 86 rides over the detent 90 and resists a retracting movement of the key until a sufiicient force is applied in a right hand direction to the key body portion 36 to overcome the spring force of the spring element 86. Each of the keys are somewhat similar in construction to the reverse key 26, and they will be more particularly described with reference to Figures 3 through 7.

A cradle member is designated in Figures 1 and 2 by numeral 92 and the details thereof may best be understood by referring to Figure 9. It may be seen that the cradle member 92 is comprised of a pair of side members 94 and 96 which are pivotally mounted on a pivot bar 98, the latter extending transversely through the housing in a direction parallel to the above mentioned pivot bar 70. The pivot bar 98 is supported by each of the side walls 12 and 14 of the housing 10 to provide support for the cradle member 92. The top and bottom sion to effect manual adjustments of the same to condition the transmission mechanism for a preselected shift sequence. The cable 110 is supported by a bracket 112 secured to the housing '109 as best seen in Figure l, a suitable grommet 114 being provided for this purpose. The cable 110 comprises an outer shroud 116 which surrounds a relatively movable wire 118.

As schematically illustrated in Figure 1A, the extremity of the Bowden cable 110 may be connected to a crank 120 which may be connected to the movable transmission control valve element above mentioned. The crank 120 is pivotally mounted on the exterior of a transmission housing shown at 122, said transmission housing including a gear reduction portion 124, a hydro- "kinetic portion 126 and a tail shaft portion 128. The

transmission may be connected in a conventional manner to the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine shown in part at 130.

A parking brake push bar is designated in Figure 2 by numeral 132 and it comprises a manually engagable depending portion 134 and a horizontal slide portion 136. The slide portion 136 may be slidably mounted in the bottom of the side walls 12 and 14 of the housing '10 to accommodate a longitudinal movement between two extreme positions as indicated in Figure 2 by dotted lines, one extreme position being designated by reference character 132, and the other being designated by reference character 132". By preference the mounting means for the push bar 132 includes rollers -137 carried at each transverse side of the horizontal portion 136 by bracket shown in part at 138, said rollers operating within longitudinal slots 139 formed in an adapter 141 carried by each of the side walls 12 and 14 of the housing 10. A cablewith the park key 24 as will subsequently become apparent from an inspection of Figure 7.

Referring next to Figures 3 through 7 it will be apparent that each of the keys is formed with an extension adapted to carry an associated push button and with another extension on the opposite side adapted to be slidably received through the end plate 18. Also, each of the keys comprises a body portion defining a pair of longitudinally spaced shoulders corresponding to the above described shoulders 38 and 40 on the reverse key 26 previously described. When the push button associated with each key is depressed, the longitudinally spaced shoulders engage the bars 102 and 104 of the cradle 92 thereby rotatably positioning the latter about a pivot bar 98. The relative spacing between the longitudinally spaced shoulders for each key is different from the corresponding spacing for any of the other keys. Therefore, each key is adapted to adjustably position the cradle 92 to separate angular position.

Each of the keys is further provided with a recess corresponding to the above described recess 62 of the reverse key 26 for receiving the common latching element 64,

. said element 64 maintaining the .keys in a cradlelengaging position upon being depressed by. the vehicle operator. Also each of the keys is formed with a cam surface 67 on the reverse key 26. It will thus be apparent that when any one of the push buttons is depressed, the associated key will move in a left hand direction causing the cam element 64 to ride over the associated cam surface and to latch the key in a cradle engaging position after the cradle has assumed the adjusted position determined by the relative spacing of the longitudinally spaced shoulders. When a second push button is depressed, the key associated with the second push button will cause the latching element 64 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as it rides over the cam surface associated with the second. key thus causing the first key to become released. The first key may then be urged in a right hand direction by the compression spring associated therewith. Each separate spring associated with the keys 20, 22, 24 and 28 corresponds to the above described spring 58 for the reverse key and they are identified in Figure 1 by numerals 146, 148, 150 and 152 respectively.

Each key is further provided with a longitudinally extended slot corresponding to the above described slot 60 for the. reverse key 26; The pivot bar 98 for the cradle 92 is received through each of these longitudinal slots as indicated thereby preventing interference between the keys and the cradle. 7

Referring next to Figure 7, the slide bar 136 carri'es'an anchor element 154 and the tension spring 156 is interposed between the anchor element 154 and the key 24 to permit a relative restrained movement of the push bar 134 .to the position designated by numeral 132' after the key 24 is returned to-a fully retracted position. The slide bar 136 also carries an abutment 158 which is adapted to engage a mating shoulder 160 on the bottom side of the key 24 so as to adjustably position the key 24 toward the engaged position designated by the numeral 132".

The push bar 132 is used in lieu of a push button for adjusting the'park key 24 since it often happens that agreater effort is required to release the parking brake than to merely adjustably position a transmission control valve. A depending portion 134 of the push bar 132 permits the vehicle operator to exert the required retracting force to the park key 24 if this proves to be necessary.

It is further apparent from an inspection of Figures 3 through 7 that each of the keys is formed with a detent shoulder corresponding to the above described shoulder 90 of the reverse key 26. The detent shoulders associated with the keys 20, 22, 26 and 28 cooperate with the spring elements 82, 84, 86 and 88 respectively to hold the keys in an engaged, position following a manual adjustment of a second key until the second key causes ,the cradle member 92 to assume a newly adjusted position as determined by the longitudinally spaced shoulders for the second key. When the cradle member 92 is so positioned, it will exert a retracting force on the first key thereby overcoming the spring efiort of the detent spring element associated with the first key. If, for example, the vehicle operator desires to shift the transmission from reverse range to drive before accelerating, the reverse push button will maintain a depressed position until the transmisison control valve has conditioned the transmission for forward drive.

Referring next to Figure 8 the arrangement of the push buttons within the shroud 50 as viewed from the interior of the vehicle passenger compartment is shown. By preference, the various push buttons illustrated in Figure 8 are comprised of a plastic body surrounded by a metal sleeve as best seen in Figure 2, the plastic portion being identified by numeral 162 and the metal sleeve being designated by numeral 164. The end of the keys 20, 22, 26 and 28 are preferably formed with a forked end adapted to be received within the plastic body to provide a permanent connection between these'parts. A

suitable face plate 166 may be positioned at the front side of the mechanism to provide a pleasing appearance, said face plate defining in part a cavity 168 within which an instrument panel light may be mounted if desired for the purpose of illuminating the plastic push buttons,v although such a light is not shown in the drawings. Similarly, a light 170 may be mounted on the exterior of the housing 10 between the side wall 14 and the emer-. gency brake key 34 as illustrated in Figure 1, said light 170 being retained within a suitable socket 172 secured to the extension 32 of the rear wall 18 of the housing 10. A plastic, light conducting element 174 is situated adjacent the light 170 and retained in place by a suitable bracket 176 and it is effective to conduct light through an opening 177 in the extension of the front housing wall 16 for the purpose of illuminating the brake release button 178 as shown in Figure 8, said button 178 being carried by the forked end of the' brake release key 34.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, a right angle bracket 180 is secured to the end wall 18 of the housing 10 and it is adapted to carry a switch mechanism generally designated by numeral 182. The switch mechanism 182 includes a first movable element 184 operatively connected to a pair of electrical contact elements contained in a suitable switch housing 186, said movable'element 184 being situated in the line of movement of the reverse key 26. A cam surface 188 is formed on the movable element 184 and the extension 540i the key 26 is adapted depress the latter when the reverse key 26 assumes a cradle engaging'position. The above mentioned contact elementsv form a portion of an electrical circuit for the vehicle back up lights.

In addition, we have also provided a second pair of electrical contact elements within the switch housing 186, and a second movable switch element 190 is operatively associated with the second contact elements, said switch element 190 being positioned in the line of movement of the 1 neutral key 28. The element 190 is also provided with a cam surface 192 which is adapted to be contacted by the terminal end of the key 28 when the latter is shifted to the neutral position.

The element 184 is arranged with respect to the key 28 so that it comes in contact with the key 28 when the cradle 92 reaches a neutral position. Upon further movement of the key 26 beyond the neutral position to a longitudinal limiting position with the shoulders 38 and 40 in engagement with the bars 104 and 106 of the cradle 92, the movable element 90 is depressed thereby closing the second contact elements within the switch housing 186. The second contact elements form a portion of the vehicle engine starter solenoid circuit, a portion of the wiring associated with the starter solenoid circuit and the reverse back up light being generally designated by numeral 194. An engine vacuum pressure actuated switch is situated in the engine starter motor circuit in series with the aforementioned second contact elements, as illustrated in Figure 2, and it comprises a housing 195 with a diaphragm 197 disposed therein, one side of the diaphragm being exposed to engine manifold vacuum pressure by means of a vacuum conduit 199. The vacuum signal applied to diaphragm 197 causes the same to deflect and to open and close electrical contact elements 201 situated on the other side thereof, said contact elements 201 assuming a closed position when the vehicle engine is inoperative and assuming :an open circuit position when the engine is running. It is thus apparent that the vehicle operator may start the engine merely by depressing the push button associated with the neutral key through the neutral stage, the other push buttons thereby being automatically released during the travel of the neutral key to automatically disengagethe transmission from any of the operating drive ranges. Operation of the neutral key during starting also releases the parking key, but if additional force is required to retract the parking mecha anisin the vehicle operator may pull on the push bar 132 as above described. If the neutral key is then depressed beyond the neutral position, the engine starter motor circuit will be closed if the engine is not running. This neutral-start feature thus greatly contributes to the safety and convenience which is desired in automotive power trains while at the same time greatly simplifying the driver operated vehicle controls.

The park and reverse keys may be rendered inoperative at speeds above a predeterimend value by a locking mechanism generally designated in Figure 2 by numeral 196. This mechanism 196 includes a substantially rectangular shaped bracket 198 having two transverse sides as shown in Figure l at 200 and 202. The sides 200 and 202 are preferably fixed to the above mentioned bracket 180 and the end wall 32 of the housing 10 'by suitable shoulders as indicated. A pair of longitudinally spaced wall portions of the mechanism 196 is shown at 204 and 206 and they are joined to the transverse side walls 200 and 202 to define a partly closed enclosure within which is positioned an electrical solenoid element 208. The wall portions 204 and 206 overlap the solenoid 208 to provide a means of support for the latter. 1

1 The lever 210 is positioned on the side of the mechanism 196 and is pivoted on the wall portion 204 as indicated at 212, one end 214 of the lever 210 being adapted to move. with respect to the wall portion 206. A spring 215 is interposed between the lever 2:10 and an anchor element 217 carried by the wall portion 204 for normally biasing the lever210 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 212. The core 216 of the solenoid element 208 is situated in close proximity to the lever 210 intermediate the wall portions 204 and 206.

The other end of the lever 210 is formed with a pair of transversely spaced abutmentportions 218 and 220 which are respectively situated in the plane of the parking key 24 and the reverse key 26 when the lever 210 is in the position indicated in Figure 2. The parking key 24 and the reverse key 26 may be moved with respect to the housing 10 by the vehicle operator in the manner above described without interference. However, when the solenoid element 208 is energized, the lever 210 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 thereby causing the abutment portions'218 and 220 to move in a downward direction into the line of movement of the park key 24 and the reverse key 26 respectively. With the solenoid element 208 thus energized, the park push button and the reverse push button may not be depressed by the vehicle operator thereby rendering it impossible to shift the transmission into reverse or park.

Since it is desirable to render the park and reverse keys inoperative only at vehicle speeds greater than a 8 predetermined limitingvalue," it'is necessary that the electrical signal supplied to the solenoid element 208 be a function of vehicle speed. Accordingly, we have mounted a suitable transmission tail shaft driven electrical governor in the transmission tail shaft housing 128, as schematically indicated in Figure 1A at 222, and have electrically connected the power output terminals of the same to the lead wires 224 of the solenoid element 228. By preference the electrical governor 222 may include a voltage responsive switch for closing the circuit of the solenoid element 208 at vehicle speeds above five to seven mph and for opening the circuit at lower speeds. This permits the vehicle operator to alternately shift the transmission from forward to reverse under emergency conditions and it also prevents the vehicle operator from inadvertently shifting the transmission to park or reverse during operation of the vehicle under road conditions.

Having thus described the principal features of our instant invention, what we claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: In a multiple speed power transmission mechanism for a wheeled vehicle having an engine with an electric starter motor circuit, a manually operable transmission rangeselector mechanism comprising a frame, a movable member mounted within said frame, a mechanical connection between said movable member and a portion of said transmission mechanism, a plurality of keys slidably mounted on said frame, each keyhaving portions engageable with said movable member for adjustably positioning the latter upon manual movement thereof relative to said frame, one of said keys being adapted to adjust said movable member to a first position for conditioning said transmission mechanism for forward drive operatiom'another of said keys being adapted to adjust said movable member to asecond position for conditioning said transmission mechanism for reverse operation, a third key adapted to adjustably position said movable member to a neutral position for rendering said transmission mechanism inoperable, a'first electrical switch forming a por- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,321,105 Saxe Jane s, 1943 

